Advantages

Disadvantages

Dissapointing sequel which feels unfinished. Play The Thousand Year Door instead.

Unlike most sequels which will settle for a nice number 2 in the title (or perhaps more accurately '3' as this is the third game in the series), Nintendo have added the word 'Super'. This seems a bit counter-intuitive to me as highlighting the sequel alone as the 'super' game is a bit like releasing a Half Life sequel called Half Life: Good Version.

Super Paper Mario's gimmick is that you can 'flip' to an alternate dimension (viewpoint) to see all the secrets and gameplay there (disappointingly, almost none). The 'flip' feature gets old fast and isn't helped by a stupid meter that needlessly punishes you if you stay in the alternate dimension for too long. There's no good reason to punish you for staying in the alternate dimension, it doesn't make the game any more challenging, other than too cynically draw out the length of a game that clearly had a rushed development cycle. Even ignoring the gimmicks, the basic platforming in SPM is uninspired, boring to play and way below the standards of your typical Mario platformer.

'Rushed' is very much the word that sums up Super Paper Mario. Here is a good game that clearly needed a few more months of development, but was probably released quickly in the early days of the Wii so people who had just paid £180 for a new console wouldn't start rioting in the streets at the lack of new games.

SPM was originally developed for the GameCube and if you think Twilight Princess was hastily ported to the Wii (which it was) then wait till you see this. I counted two uses of the Wiis motion controls. One was pointing at the TV screen to create a circle of light that could find hidden objects. That's not clever use of the Wii, that's a 'How To Use A Torch' simulator. The other was shaking the remote occasionally to unfreeze yourself. Yeah, this is a GameCube game.

Everything I like about this game is from the far superior GameCube title Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door. All the good art assets and design (the new stuff is ugly and visually uninteresting) the clever design, the witty scripting. Super Paper Mario has its moments but it's a dull platformer sequel to an excellent RPG. If you're desperate for another Paper Mario game then you'll probably get something out of this but this should have been so much better. I don't doubt that give another few months of development time this would have been a fun platformer with a lot more to see and do, up there with the standards of its predecessor.

Comments

Advantages

Disadvantages

An inspired choice for pure gamers.

I had never played the previous paper mario game, this was my first foray into the series. What a treat I was in for.

The first thing to note about this game, and presumably people already know this, but this is essentially a 2D RPG platform game with some clever 3D elements attached. Throughout the entirety of the game, the developers never ceased to wow me with their new and clever ideas, it truly was a treat to play through. From simple 'flipping' of the scene so that it can be viewed in 3D for a limited period, the developers have created an exciting new space to play with and they have really pushed the boundaries for what they can do with this new novel feature. There are also some other nice touches later in the game, where they have taken this simple concept and added further twists which I will not reveal, to keep the user amazed throughout.

In between the action, you will find yourself immersed in more of an RPG like game with fetch quests and the like. These sections break up the action nicely but I didn't find it too uncommon to feel a little lost at times in these parts and eager to get back to the action. My biggest complaint, however, are the cutscenes. Whilst you can skip through individual dialogues, you still have to sit and wait through a lot of them, which I found quite tedious, even though I am sure there are many that will find them entertaining and they in no way ruin the game.

Overall, I would recommend this product for any serious gamer and perhaps casual gamers who aren't afraid of playing some more traditional style platforming too.

Comments

Advantages

Disadvantages

Don't buy it - there are much better options

We (me and the missus) enjoyed this game's predecessor, 'Paper Mario and The Thousand Year Door' (on the game cube) so much, we went a bit retro and downloaded the first in the (now) series on the Wii (originally SNES) when it became available. We loved that too, despite it's retro graphics failing to live up to it's modern day plasma tv output. You could see they had taken the best elements of the original game and come up with improvements for the second one in the series - which I guess is the ultimate goal of a sequel. They had not re-invented the wheel.

So when this Super Paper Mario was released for the Wii, we got a bit giddy inside and set aside some playtime for it, expecting to be so engrosed we wouldn't see the light of day for a while. Boy, were we in for a disapointment! They had taken away what we thought was the heart and soul of the game (the battle element) and replaced it with a pretty average platformer.

In the previous games, when you came into contact with an enemy, you would be transported onto a stage where you would have a (very) simplified 'final fantasy' type battle between you an the enemy. You'd both take it in turns to use a move, and it was down to skillful button combinations/timings to pull them off. This was a great way of relaxed 'fighting' and set it apart from normal Mario games. Unfortuantely, this never made it into the new game, and instead you were back to the standard 'jump on their heads' approach of normal mario games.

Granted, they had made an attempt to transpose the 'badges' element of the previous games into this one, where you could boost your attacks/health etc, and created a 3D element where you would switch between that and 2D views that would reveal hidden secrets. Unfortuantely, the latter of these 'ideas' just became annoying (due to the controll style not being up to scratch) and the whole game felt more like a poor man's 'Super Mario Brothers', rather than retain the unique style of the previous efforts. Even being able to play with four characters with different abilities couldn't save it.

I would not advise anyone to buy this game - if you are a fan of platformers (which this game essentially is), go for a normal mario brothers platformer, and if you are a fan of the previous titles in this series - get a DS as there is a new Paper Mario due out in the new year which appears to have gone back to the original 'stage' fighting concept. It's almost as if Nintendo have realised (after they released Super Paper Mario) why people bought the Paper Mario games in the first place...

Comments

Advantages

Disadvantages

A really good simple to play game

I played this game when it first came out on the Wii and even though it probably seems a little dated now when compared to Super Mario Galaxy it is still a really good game to play.

The majority of this game is played in 2D but Mario can flip into 3D sometimes in order to get around things and to see more and find secret entrances. The aim of this game like the other Mario games is to save Princess Peach and Mario has to collect eight pure hearts from each chapter of the game in order to get to her.

The controls for this game are easy to use and the wii remote is used sideways like a traditional games control.

I really like this game as it is not too difficult to complete and there are lots of things to explore and each level has different things and enemies to destroy. Another good part to the game is that as you advance Mario can switch into Bowser, Princess Peach or Luigi and each character can do different things so if you need fire you use Bowser as he breathes fire, Princess Peach can float quite far and Luigi can jump further so these are very useful in different situations.

I do think the newer Mario games are better than this game but if you have never played Super Paper Mario then it is definately worth a try.

Comments

Advantages

Disadvantages

It really does remind me of stickers actually.

I've always found myself drawn to the Paper Mario series, a post modern take on the Mario series with an anarchic sense of humour. A 3D RPG with cardboard cutout characters that look taken straight from the box art. The concept has always felt somewhat limited, however, by the confines of the RPG genre. From the original on the N64, the games have features primitive turn based combat that attempts to capture the Mario style via a series of command menus. However, Mario is all about leaping to platforms and dropping on turtles from an enormous height before spinning their shells into oncoming mushrooms. The whole "pick an attack, pick an item... wait" type of game can never capture that. Instead we were given a fairly typical RPG that offered lots of Mario-esque inside jokes but never really felt like a Mario game. Super Paper Mario changes all that.

The storyline in Super Paper Mario is that an evil wizard is trying to bring about the end of the world. His magical book of prophecy informs him that this will occur when series villain Bowser finally marries compulsive kidnap victim, Princess Peach. To accomplish this, he abducts pretty much everyone but Mario and hides them off in a secret realm. It's up to Mario to adventure his way through the Mushroom kingdom and rescue them. Of course, this is all pretty typical stuff for Mario and nobody seems to be that surprised to find themselves here again, Bowser seems particularly pleased that for once everything has been done for him. The story is not the important feature here though, despite surfing around in the RPG genre. Rather Super Paper Mario offers some of the most interesting gameplay for years.

At first the game appears to be a basic platformer. As Mario, you perform your regular moves including hitting blocks to get power ups and navigating platforms. The difference here is that Mario doesn't require mushrooms to power up, nor does he die instantly upon contact with an enemy. Rather, Mario is equipped with hit points. He has about five at the start of the game as well as attack ratings that influence how easy enemies are to defeat. Typical baddies such as goombas can be jumped on and killed instantly while later baddies will require you to be more creative. Turn based combat has been abolished, in its place is a more sophisticated system that plays much like Mario platformers but allows you to vary your tactics, jump on a baddy five or such times before finally knocking them out or something different entirely. Of course, this is still an RPG. You'll collect experience points and level up, then you can choose to increase your own hit points, improve your attacks or change your character in other ways. This time around, Super Paper Mario feels like it's part of the same world and is a very fulfilling companion to the Mario Bros. games.

In keeping with the traditional style, Super Paper Mario is essentially locked to a side on perspective. At the start of the game is appears very much as though Super Paper Mario is little more than a traditional platformer and plays no differently to the traditional Mario game. As you move on however you will eventually unlock the third dimension. Mario gains the ability to flip the world, viewing the character from behind, this is a major part of the game and is used to solve puzzles and make your way through the world. Mario is still flat however, his cardboard cutout is just drawn walking away from you instead. I found that very amusing. It opens up new perspectives and forces you to see the game differently. For example, in an early section Mario encounters a bottomless pit that is too wide to jump across. Not platforms are available and the level is essential empty, save for some hills off in the background. Flipping the level reveals that the hills in the background actually only appear to be in the background and actually form a hidden bridge that you can only cross while flipped. It's a great little puzzle that turns your expectations on their head and really offers something new to platformers in general. The world-flip ability is limited however and can only be used for a certain time before you'll flip back, if you're walking across that hidden bridge when it flips back then you'll fall to your demise.

Graphically, Super Paper Mario is beautiful. It utilises 3D environments in gameplay but most obstacles and characters are drawn as two dimensional sprites. They're works of art in themselves and it often looks just like a cartoon or even a sitcker book come to life. While it doesn't push the boat out on processing power, it is a well designed, creative style that is operating well within the Wii's abilities and looks wonderful for it. The wii might lack power in comparison to the PS3 or Xbox 360 but Super Paper Mario is a game that would not look any better on any other system because it achieves exactly what it attempts.

Control is simple and can probably be picked up by most players. Little use of motion control is made and the WiiMote is held sideway like an old Nintendo Entertainment System controller. A few games around are using this control scheme now and every time I experience it I think it works very well. As you unlock new powers, the wii mote uses a few more of its abilities. One particular development involves pointing at the screen to unlock hidden doors but the basic gameplay always returns to an old fashion joypad approach.

As your work through Super Paper Mario you'll not only experience some of the funniest moments in a Mario game but some really unique levels. It's a really innovative game that works both as a platformer and actually a very decent RPG. The story here is much stronger than the typical Mario title and despite being in a locked perspective, it involves a lot of exploration and a lot of very creative puzzle solving. It pushes both your brain and your thumbs and will appeal to a wide range of games.

The box says 3+ and there's certainly nothing in here that I would consider inappropriate for a child at any age, however it does require some basic reading skills to get the most out of and the puzzles require a bit of conceptual thinking. Don't let that put you off though, this does have a lot to offer young children and is probably a very good game to grow up with. Super Paper Mario can be found in most shops stocking video games, it's been out a few years now and should be around the £20 mark. Highly recommended.

Comments

Advantages

Disadvantages

Caters to the casual player

I am a big fan of the previous Paper Mario games, but this game just doesn't feel right to me. All of the elements are there, but the sorely lacking gameplay makes this more of a chore than the fun party game that it should be.

The gameplay is fairly disappointing; everything has been toned down quite a bit, with the difficulty especially being toned down, presumably due to a fear of alienating non-gamers who are just getting into this series. The game switches between 2D and 3D, but does so in a jarring way, because it never changes up the control scheme, which is by far the game's biggest flaw...

The controls are a large part of what makes the game so contentious. Given that the game is largely a 2D platform game, you turn the Wiimote to control the game like a classic SNES controller, using the D-pad to move Mario. Some will see this as a loving throwback to the games of old, and while it works for the 2D parts, it is at the cost of the 3D sections, which are as a result very fiddly because the D-pad isn't responsive enough for what the game is commanding.

The visuals are solid, and although they change frequently between 2D and 3D, they are both well realised and each appears to have had equal time spent on developing it. However, the 3D elements could have used a little more pep, given how detailed some of the other Wii games are despite the obvious technical limitations. Aurally, the game fares a lot better, with the music sounding aptly retro, even if the game has virtually zero dialogue.

This feels like Paper Mario-lite, and it's just too lean and half-baked to satisfy hardcore fans.

Comments

Advantages

Disadvantages

A great game that I would recommend buying.

Super paper mario is great game in its own right but isnt realy a paper mario game.

This game is a platformer more like mario bros. rather then the role playing elements of the first 2 paper mario games. In this game you jump around like any other platformer and use pixl's that follow you and give you certain powers. You can have up to 2 pixels following you at a time and they can be switched at any time.

The majority of the game is played in 2d but early in the game you encounter a pixl that gives you the power to switch to 3d. Though staying in 3d for too long depletes mario's health. Other examples of powers the pixl's give you are dropping bombs. Turning 1 dimensional while not moving (making you invisible and invincible). Also dropping explosive bombs.

Mario,Peach and bowser are all playable in the game. Certain roleplaying elements do remain in the game such as buying items and gaining experience and leveling up which you can increase your attack and defence with. Bowser has the highest attack.

It is a fun game in its own right but before I bought the game I didnt realise there weren't any turn based battles so be advised this is not paper mario but "super" paper mario.

Comments

Advantages

Disadvantages

Do not get it!

I got this game with my Nintendo Wii and I must admit it was a disappointment. It is not an awful game but not one I ever play and I don` think it lives up to the name of Mario which normally has great games with it (albeit often similar ones)

The main difference between this and other Mario games is that you can switch between dimensions. I think this actually quite a good idea and at least a little bit different from the normal Mario games.

You can switch between 2D and 3D very quickly allowing you to get around obstacles and get to the end of a level. The game has many problems though like lengthy pieces of text which is very boring, quite bad graphics and this game also has no multiplayer element. The game can also be quite challenging and all this combined means I really don't like the game and would much rather play other Wii games like Wii Sports, Mario Kart, New Super Mario, Wii Play or Guitar Hero as they are much more fun, have multiplayer and feel finished. Most of them also have good multiplayer modes meaning you can enjoy them with friends which is in my opinion the best thing about the Wii; it is easy to use and is great when lots of people come round meaning quick, fun and quite basic games.

I basically just do not like this game and would not recommend as I don't find it enjoyable and there are some much better Wii games out there as I mentioned. I am probably being a bit harsh as this game has been rated on average 4 stars but I am only going to give it a 2!

2/5 Not recommended!

Thanks for reading : )

This review may also appear on other sites under the names ns1209 and mariofan123.

Comments

Advantages

Disadvantages

A great game from a great series that's great all over!

Mario has been with us for so long now, and many say he's showing signs of getting old, but this game has disproved those theories with flying colours.

Some Mario titles in the past have fallen slightly short of the mark, but this game has really done a lot to avoid that. While the idea of paper Mario is nothing new, it certainly feels very fresh and fun.

The game revolves around for characters from the Mario Universe, the red capped hero himself, his faithful sidekick and brother Luigi, the ever kidnapped Peach and the long suddering Bowser. The player takes control of these various characters throughout the game in a 2D platform environment. The 'twist' is that one can flip the level into 3D mode at any point to reveal a 3D persective of the level, showing hidden doors, items and enemies, allowing one to progress through the level in a totally different way.

Throughout the game, tha player can collect 'Pixls', little sprites that allow the character to use special moves. One allows the character to hover over dangerous surfaces while another provides the abilty of a hammer attack. On top of this, each character has their own special abilities. Mario is the only character that can flip to 3D, Luigi is faster and can jump much higher, Peach can use her parasol to float over long distances and shield herself from attacks while Bowser can breathe fire.

The characters get stronger based on an RPG-esque level up syste, whereby stomping enemies provides experience points and when a certain benchmark is reached the character gains a level. This is a great way of levelling up, and the results are visible as stomping on an enemy reveals how much damage you've done, nd it grows each time you level up. Also, it's a tried and tested format that doesn't require a lot of grinding in this game as it happens quite natrually and fluidly.

The levels are well designed and look great in both 2D and 3D, and the story is interesting as it unfolds. Also, as has now become a standard in Mario games, there are lots of little extra things in the game to be collected which don't progress the story, but add an extra element for completionists.

The dialogue is also very amusing at times and is fun for both adults and kids. Personally, I played this game with my partner and had a lot of fun taking turns to play levels and doig the harder bits when she couldn't.

The other interesting thing is the control scheme, the Wiimote is held sideways like a SNES controller and the game isn't based around waggling the controller around like a fool, giving it a slightly more mature edge while retaining it's 'made for all' feel.

It's a great game and a must for any Mario fans, old or young. Definitely worth every penny and replayable to the max after a couple of months left in the drawer.

Comments

Advantages

Disadvantages

love it love it love it

I absolutly loved this game but then again i have been a fan since i was a little girl! i will give you a run thru of the actual game...Mario's adventure begins shortly after Princess Peach is kidnapped for the umpteenth time. Count Bleck, a top-hatted madman, has abducted the poor princess, believing that a forced marriage between her and Bowser will generate a black hole that will devour the entire universe. Wow, and I thought all those marriage jokes were just jokes. But Mario has a secret weapon at his disposal, the Wii Remote, which holds the power to flip the game from 2-D to a quasi-3-D perspective. Everything in the game will transform to 3-D, except for characters, which remain in their paper-thin state. The combination of different perspectives Mario can explore makes for a very unique visual feel; it's also a vital tool to solve puzzles and bypass obstacles.

Fans of the previous Paper Mario-like me!games will also notice that Super Paper Mario relies less heavily on RPG elements than the other titles in the series. The turn-based fighting system has been scrapped for a real-time affair and you can either stomp on enemies or use items and magic to send them into the shredder.Paperback Heroes

Controlling the action is relatively simple: Throughout most of the game you hold the Wii Remote with both hands--similar to the way it was back on the NES--but pressing the 'A' button will flip Mario out of the flat, 2-D world and into a 3-D perspective. You will also aim the Remote towards the screen at points to reveal hidden doors, play mini games, and more. As you progress through the game, you'll also get to control Peach, Luigi, and everybody's favorite villain, Bowser.

Virtually everything you come into contact with during your time spent with this game is laden with a truly warped sense of humor; there's no shortage of facial hair jokes and screwy characters you'll encounter. You will be spending as much time laughing at what's on the screen as you will be thoroughly immersed in trying to clear the current chapter you are playing.

Pros: Great gameplay and wonderful sense of humor.Cons: There's really nothing to complain about. It's a pretty awesome game. thanx and hop i didnt go on to much! xoxo

Comments

Advantages

Disadvantages

Im glad i bought it, such a good wee game!

Super Paper Mario is a platformer/role-palying type of game and i loved playing through it! The palyer moves through a series of levels, and in each level there is quite a bit to do! You get to explore the different landscape's, fight different enemies and solve various puzzles! In the game there is 32 levels spread across 8 chapters and each chapter is like a different 'dimension' as described by the game! The whole story to game is to collect eight pure hearts and yes there is 1 in each 'dimension' lol!

The thing that caught my eye the most about paper mario is its ability to change (when palying) from 2D to 3D, i thought this was amazing as i have never seen a game that hold's such a unique factor. The majority of the gameplay is played in 2D, u learn the ability to flip into 3D mode pritty much at the start of the game and this can sumetimes lead to secrets or just simply help you get buy an obstacles that are impassabl in the 2D mode.

As well as playing as mario, Super Paper Mario give's you the choice to play between Princess Peach, Bowser and Luigi as the game progresses through. You can switch between players at any point of the game and each character has a different ability that helps you proceed through the levels.

Abilitys!

Mario- Flips between dimensions (2D to 3D)Princess Peach- Can float over long distancesBowser- Can breath fireLuigi- Can jump really high

Overall i think this game is deffenatly worth playing as it brings so much fun and sense of achievement when you get through another level or chapter. After writting this its actualy made me want to play through it agine lol!

Comments

Advantages

Disadvantages

would recommend

Another good Mario game from nintendo though one thing that i would say is this is not the best mario game that has ever been made but the fact that you can switch from 2D to 3D makes the game alot more intreasting. You get to play as a few different characters with all the classic characters from the older more classic Super mario / Mario games.

I would say that this is another must have Mario game for any Mario fan of the old or new mario games.

The game is good fun for anyone any age and i would recommend to anyone who enjoys the mario games.

The one down side is that this is only a one player game which is ok if you just want to chill out with a game which takes you back to being a child.

Great vaule for money would recommend :)

Comments

Advantages

Disadvantages

One for the kids... don't pay full-price for this one, try and get a bargain on eBay

I was very much looking forward to playing Super Paper Mario, having heard good things about other versions of the game on different platforms, however I have to say I was somewhat disappointed. On the first play, the game has an incredibly lengthy introduction which I appreciate is necessary to a certain extent in order to give some background information on the starting situation of the game. The introduction, however, isn't really of much substance and unfortunately didn't manage to maintain my attention for its duration. Once you finally get going with the actual game there are undoubtedly some redeeming features: you have a Pixl Tippi accompanying you around and revealing hidden doors and things; after a few levels you have the ability to switch characters; and the best aspect of the game by far is the ability to flip between 2D and 3D views of the world (which reveals all sorts in itself). Throughout the game there are interludes of story-telling animation, which do slow the game down and again aren't overly necessary but thankfully not as lengthy as the introduction. I think Super Paper Mario Wii is definitely aimed at children, I can see the story-telling aspect would be appealing if I were significantly younger! So, it's one for the kids really, or a couple of sneaky plays when the kids are in bed if you're a parent perhaps!

Comments

Advantages

Disadvantages

ok...if you like that sort of thing....?

If you like puzzles you will like this game. It is challenging and at times I have had to go online for clues to get forward in parts of the game. But thats just me.

One criticism is the lengthy dialogue and annoying music. I keep volume down and dont even bother reading bits of the lengthy dialouge. Pointless in my opinion.

Even so, I am enjoying the game and will play until the end. Got two more pure hearts to go before that happens!

OK,from here this is an update. I went on to finish the game and on hindsight I'm glad I played it. It goes on to become harder to complete. I ended up having my laptop on beside me to get clues online as to what to do next! Good though, if you like to be puzzled and pushed that way!

The story in the game is pants! It really is dire...this is a shame cos it has so much to offer with the flipping and flopping and the different areas to explore etc. The end was so dull with all the blathering on, predictable dialogue etc....Dissapointed with that. Hey ho, cant have it all eh?

Comments

Advantages

Disadvantages

Worth buying, especially for young kids

The first thing I noticed about this game was that it was put together in a hurry, I was disappointed with the graphics and the annoying little snippets of commentary that you have to sit through every time you meet a new character. Then I thought to myself, the Wii was never advertised as the most powerful gaming machine ever, it is a console designed for quirky fun games for all ages to play.Fortunately as I got further into the game I discovered the 3D element which was a pleasant surprise and found myself getting very addicted to it. There are some very clever features in the game but I did fins myself eventually having to look at a walkthrough once I got stuck. My 7 year old niece came around to play it and was absolutely hooked.It's an interesting twist on the typical 2D platform games and I liked it so much that I finished it!Tip - if you are playing this for any lengthy period of time on a plasma screen be wary that the points/lives in top banner can burn into your screen!

Comments

Product Details

Mario and Luigi are enjoying a lazy afternoon at their house when they hear the terrible news: Princess Peach has been kidnapped! The two brothers head straight for Bowser's castle to get her back, but Bowser is just as surprised about Peach's kidnapping as they are. At that moment, a strange top-hatted villain warps in and abducts everyone but Mario. The mysterious villain then forces Peach and Bowser to get married, creating a rift of dark energy that threatens to tear the universe apart! Only Mario can save the day...but he can't do it alone.